Panel to set tourism norms around tiger reserves

NEW DELHI - The environment ministry has formed a committee to lay down guidelines for regulating forest and wildlife eco-tourism in the country, especially around tiger reserves, officials said Wednesday.

The seven-member committee set up under the chairmanship of Sujit Banerjee, former secretary with the tourism ministry, will submit its final report within 45 days.

“The committee will make an appraisal of ecological issues, tourist visitation and suggest measures for carrying capacity of the reserves, and give recommendations for regulating tourism in ecologically sensitive non-forest areas in and around tiger reserves,” said an official of the environment ministry.

It will firm up the guidelines for forest and wildlife eco-tourism in the context of advisories issued by the National Tiger Conservation Authority, the Wildlife (Protection) Act and the Forest (Conservation) Act.

The committee will also see the studies conducted by the tourism ministry on lodges and resorts around the tiger reserves.

Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh recently expressed concern over dangers posed by mushrooming tourist lodges around tiger reserves, especially the Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand.

The ministry is working on guidelines for promoting eco-tourism - tourism that is ecologically sustainable and is in line with the carrying capacity of tourists in a particular reserve.